São Paulo – The city of Caxias do Sul, in Rio Grande do Sul, receives up to Sunday (8) the 3rd edition of the Hands of the Earth International Culture and Handicraft Fair. The 250 exhibitors from 28 countries are going to take to the Grape Fest Exhibition Centre a fair of products made by artisans. Brazilians, for example, will participate with items made from golden grass from Tocantins, or handicraft made by the Indians of the south of Bahia state. India should take fabric and the Turks, gold-plated cups. The Arabs are also participating in the fair, with fabrics from Syria, ceramic plates from Palestine and crystals from Tunisia, among others.
The commercial director at the fair, Karine Romera, said that the proposal is to motivate sales of products made by Brazilian artisans, and also promote the exchange of techniques and cultures among the countries. “Apart from handicraft, there should be Peruvian music presentations, Flamenco as well as Arab and belly dancing,” he said. This year’s edition also includes the incentive of the government of Brazil. Producers from nine states are represented with support of the Brazilian Handicraft Program (PAB) of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade.
In Caxias do Sul, the event ends on Sunday. Up to last Wednesday (4), 27,000 people had visited the site. This edition of Hands of the Earth, however, does not end in Caxias. Late this month, the event should get to Santa Catarina and then head on to Blumenau, Chapecó, Criciúma and Joinvile.
One of the exhibitors at the event is the Syrian Mohamed Al Hassar. He does not produce what he sells; he buys from artisans who are his relatives and friends in his native Damascus, the capital of Syria. Married to a Brazilian, Mohamed spends half the year in Brazil and the other half in Syria. And, while he sells the products at a fair in the south of the country, his wife is participating in other events in the north. Although he has already been selling handicraft in Brazil for three years, this is the first time that he participates in this fair.
“I sell here and then travel to Syria to buy more. The public is greatly interested in what we do. Brazilians appreciate handicraft and treat foreigners very well,” said Mohamed. Among the products sold at his shop, named "Reino Árabe" (Arab Kingdom), there are hookahs, towels and embroideries. Apart from the Syrian Mohamed, the Arab countries have representatives from Tunisia, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco and Palestine.
*Translated by Mark Ament
